Yoon In-chon to Light the Flame at Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games

Touring the Torch at Yukmingwan High School in Wonju
"Must Prepare Carefully as Youth Participants Are Involved"

Yoo In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, will light the flame for the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games in Wonju. On the afternoon of the 28th, 50 days before the opening of the Games, he will visit Yukmingwan High School in Wonju to conduct a torch tour. Together with the torch lighters composed of Yukmingwan High School teachers, he will ignite the flame, wishing the Games to be a stage of dreams and passion. Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Province; Choi Jong-gu, Co-Chairman of the Organizing Committee; Jin Jong-oh, Chairman of the Organizing Committee; Kim Jae-yeol, International Olympic Committee (IOC) member; and Won Gang-su, Mayor of Wonju, will also attend to wish for a successful event.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The torch tour is not a relay run by runners. It includes a lighting ceremony where the flame is ignited on the lighting stand, along with programs for youth. After passing through Seoul, Busan, Sejong, Jeju, and Gwangju, it has been touring eighteen cities and counties in Gangwon Province since the 7th. It will continue through Goseong County (29th), Inje County (30th), Chuncheon City (December 5th), Cheorwon County (December 12th), Samcheok City (December 14th), Yangyang County (December 20th), Pyeongchang County (December 21st), Yanggu County (December 22nd), Taebaek City (December 26th), and Jeongseon County (December 27th), before concluding on the 28th of next month in Gangneung City.

After the torch tour, Minister Yoo will move directly to Welli Hilli Park in Hoengseong, where freestyle skiing and snowboarding events will be held. He will inspect the competition facilities and receive reports on preparations from the event officials. He is also scheduled to tour key facilities such as the athlete lounge, staff cafeteria, broadcasting control room, and medical center. He said, "The Youth Olympics is not just a sports competition but a festival where sports and culture come together," adding, "I hope the youth, who are the main protagonists, will interact and build friendships." He also urged the officials, "Since this is an Olympics for youth participants, I ask you to take even greater care in managing the event during the remaining period."